Comment Archives: stories: News & Opinion: Feature

How sanctimonious of you, Debra. As far as being known by the company that you keep, does that mean you approve of antisemitism, bigotry, and sexual assault? If not, you might want to do a little looking around yourself, it seems like you've got your head in the sand.

Anne, what you believe may not actually be true. Part of your beliefs are based on media and personal biases from one or two experiences. Get to know some Trump supporters and ask them why they voted for Trump. Listen to, and think about, their answers. Try to put yourself in their shoes. They suffered 8 years hopelessly opposed to Obama and the lies that they were told.

Then ask yourself, "did those that opposed Obama, riot in the streets damaging someone elses property, and, encourage others to kill cops? Or could it be that most of these agitating protesters are paid for by a political movement or even a political party?

You might want to rethink some of your positions because you are known by the company that you keep.

It has always been said that for one to own the head of a former great leader that said owner would become endowed with those similar genius/luck/skills as the leader himself. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but the Bush's have already owned 16 years of the total 200 years of presidency's in the USA - barring Jeb Bush doesn't somehow win another 16 years for them this one, single, shitty family, will have taken nearly 25% of the entire lifespan of our nations presidency's. It's more than just a dynasty. - I'd say the old lore of owning a great leaders skull is spot on, or at least the Bush's possession of the skull appears to have done them quite well and successful. :-o

I have a newspaper article from I believe the 1980's that speak more clearly about that of a leaked letter. The article clearly alleges 4 grave robbers (with photos) were those who took the skull. One of the four is none other than Prescott Bush. https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNIJxx5vs0xAq0b9kTfedwMrpTHp1SgZsDxTbzS

I was a strong supporter of Sharon Bronson for the dozen-plus years I have lived in Picture Rocks. I supported her because without her active support we probably would not have the pool, BMX/Skate Park, various grants, and other amenities that have enhanced our community. But that was then.

Now she has lined up with forces that see the Avra Valley as a dumping ground for their money-making schemes. Look at:
-Her support of County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry and silence about his proposed Interstate 11 route through the Avra Valley that will hurt our communities, including the Tohono Oodham Nation, impede wildlife, and destroy ancient archaeological sites, while enriching millionaire real estate speculators like Wil Cardon and Don Diamond;
-Tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from fat cat developers and corporate PACs;
-Her continued vocal support for the Sonoran Corridor leg of I-11 despite its rejection by the voters in the bond election; whatever happened to respecting the will of the people?
-With transportation logistics essential to connection with Mexico she ignores the job losses that Interstate 11 planners of integrative manufacturing expect with R&D in the US and manufacture and assembly in Mexico where ADOT expects wages to be lower than China; with stealing good American shipping jobs from the West Coast to the expanding Port of Guaymas; to crippling tourism at Saguaro Park, Desert Museum, Kitt Peak, etc.; to destroying existing jobs that serve the I-10 corridor;
-Her support for doubling a regressive county sales tax on us and increasing the state gas tax while lavishing tens of millions in tax breaks and subsidies on crony corporations.

I support Cyndi Tuell for county attorney, she demonstrates a strong ethic to our community and important issues. I appreciate her dedication to environmental concerns pertaining to Pima county and the state of Arizona. Take a moment to learn about her campaign at
www.https://sites.google.com/site/consultingtuell/home

In the year 2016, no one under the age of 75 should oppose marijuana legalization. Baby boomers, Generation X-ers, and the Millennials have no excuse to believe in the reefer madness propaganda used to keep marijuana illegal, in part of a war on drugs that is authoritarian, racist, and waged unevenly against poor and working class Americans. It is overdue to end!

As you might imagine I have taken a lot of flak from republican circles for getting the endorsement of The Weekly. However, I am very proud of this endorsement and do not shy away from it at all. Of all candidates, the Sheriff should work to bridge all divides and be open to all people. I will always be open to all of you as your Sheriff. Working together we can make Pima County a better place.

In response to omadrid: just your language alone is a good reason to vote 'no' on prop 205. I guess there are idiots on both sides of the issue, so despite your disgusting language, I'm voting yes anyway.

You actually believe that Trump is LESS shady than HRC? You're not paying enough attention.

Although I do agree that this country does need a change...but not a change for the worse by electing an egotistical, narcissistic, xenophobic, racist, elitist, misogynistic, accused child raping, politically inexperienced "pussy grabbing" entitlist hothead. Sure, HRC definitely has flaws, but she's a saint compared to this blockhead.

P.S.~ Who is this AMY Schiller which you speak of? I've never heard of her. The name definitely reminds me of Amy Schumer though.

You must be insane endorsing Foster and Juarez for re-election to the TUSD Board. They need to be thrown out, if only for their complete indifference to the needs of the students, teachers and employees of TUSD. I don't know how TUSD can survive another 4 years of their destructive indifference. On the last three years of their watch TUSD has lost over 400 teachers a year. That's over 1200 teachers out of 2,500 TUSD teachers. Since the start of school this year, 17 TUSD teachers have already resigned.

The chief HR officer doesn't do exit surveys, because she "knows" why teachers leave. None of the surrounding districts have anything like TUSD's rate of teacher vacancies, Adjusted for the relative size of the districts, neither the other local school districts, nor any of Arizona's other 9 large school districts have anything like TUSD's number of teacher vacancies! TUSD currently has 151 teacher vacancies. For each vacancy listed, its necessary to read to the end of the job description. Something listed as "elementary school teacher" may actually be for 4 elementary school teachers at the same school--1 1st grade, 2 2nd grade, 1 3rd grade. These positions are unlikely to be filled this year.

Talk to the Utterback parents--no textbooks for kids to take home, 8 unfilled teaching positions, discipline and bullying problems, gates left unlocked during school hours allowing free access to the campus by anyone and allowing students to leave campus any time they please. Some of the teachers Utterback does have aren't even certified! Once upon a time, Utterback was an award winning, outstanding school, recognized for performing arts. Today, few of those classes are offered. No dance classes, because there's no dance teacher and TUSD isn't even advertising for a dance teacher.

Oh, at Utterback and nearly all TUSD schools, if parents want textbooks for their students to use at home, the parents better plan on buying them. Students at University High and students in the IB program, but only the students in the IB program, at Cholla do have textbooks to take home. The TUSD school libraries haven't been funded in years--no new books no periodicals. Superintendent Sanchez has a $3,000 allowance to buy periodicals for his office. That's in addition to the $480,000 compensation package that Foster and Juarez approved, making him the highest paid superintendent in Arizona and one of the highest paid superintendents in the United States..

TUSD carried over from last year, two years of 301 teacher performance money that was not paid out to teachers. It turns out TUSD is using millions of dollars of the teachers' performance money to cover up the enormous deficit Superintendent Sanchez has run up during his tenure in TUSD. In FY 2013, 2014, 2015, TUSD used $6 million, $10 million and $12.2 million, respectively, of unspent 301 money to cover TUSD's increasing deficit. We won't know until December when the external auditors annual report is published, just how much more money Sanchez has borrowed from teachers' 301 money. Sanchez says he has been a CFO and has taught finance, so he can't claim he didn't know he was running up these huge deficits. The increasing size of the surplus of 301 money not paid to teachers is well documented in the annual AFR reports, Sanchez and CFO Soto have had the Board approve every October. The annual CAFR reports prepared by the external auditor documents the use of the surplus 301 money to cover overspending of the rest of the budget.

The CAFR and AFR reports are all on TUSD's website under Information, Financial. In the reports just look for Classroom Site Fund. That's the official name for 301 money. The CAFR's balance sheets document the loaning of 301 money. The CAFR's footnotes have the details about the 301 money being used to cover deficits in other accounts. The AFR reports show the amount of unspent 301 money rolled over each year. Last year, TUSD only paid out 25% of the total 301 teacher performance money it had.

Under the current Board majority, TUSD is run solely for the benefit of the Superintendent and his senior administrators. The Superintendent will make about $480,000. For last year, he collected $32,634 for his unused vacation days. Last year, his cabinet collected $80,000 for their unused vacation days. They get 25 vacation days a year, 5 sick days, 6 personal days and 22 holidays every year. The cabinet automatically is paid for their unused vacation days every year! The cabinet members do such outstanding work that every one of them collected 100% of their $10,000 performance bonuses. TUSD has no details of exactly what goals each of them accomplished.

On the other hand, a TUSD teacher is not getting a dime for her unused sick days after 30 years. She didn't notify TUSD by February that she would be retiring at the end of the school year! And, remember, TUSD only paid out 25% of the $21.1 million in teacher performance money it had last year.

And, TUSD has moved all its nurses, counselors, and social workers to a new pay scale that will pay them $800 less per year than their current pay scale. Even with its 151 teacher vacancies, TUSD is only paying its returning retired teachers 70% of what other teachers make. And, TUSD has reneged on the benefits Sanchez told the Board and what HR told the retired teachers in writing. They're getting docked for taking the personal days they were told they had. When confronted about the discrepancy, Chief HR Officer Maiden told the retired teachers, they weren't entitled to the days. When shown the document that defined their benefits, her response was to dismiss it as a "mistake."

Finally, lets not forget the $5,000 donations both Foster and Juarez took from ESI's Vice President of Marketing. They each gave different explanations for how they happened to get their largest donations from a woman in Phoenix. This summer they both voted to approve a $21 million contract with ESI. Foster returned hers only after she was caught. Juarez said he would return his $5,000 donation, but he has not.

Really, you think these two should be re-elected and they've only made a few little mistakes!

I'm not voting for either of the 2 candidates shoved down our throats by the media for President, there are other choices. All other info I've gathered here I'll research myself with my perspective a little more attuned. Thanks for the 411. God Bless America... That's the only change that will work anymore.